Air-agitating-tube support for ice machines



Nov. 6 1928.

N. M. SMALL AIR'AGI'IATING TUBE SUPPORT FOR ICE MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 1927 gwoe'nlfoc Norma nM .SmI 1 Nov. 6, 1928. 1,690,599

N. M. SMALL AIR AGITATING TUBE SUPPORT FOR ICE MACHINES Filed March 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4'17 49 47 FEEL. 45

NormanM. Small Patented Nov. 6, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NORMAN M. SMALL, OF WAYNESBORO, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO FRICK COM- PANY, OF W'AYNESBORO, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

AIR-AG-ITATING-TUBE SUPPORT FOR ICE MACHINES.

Application filed March 4,

My said invention relates to ice making machines in which freezing cans are supported in grid or framework, such freezing cans be ing supplied through tubes with air for agitating the water to befrozen in the cans, As commonly constructed thetubes for supply-- ing air for agitating water are supported by means of brackets removably attached to the sides of the cans and when the ice is removed it is first necessary to remove the brackets to permit the ice to be discharged from the cans.

The object of my invention is to provide a bracket which may be swung out of the way when the ice cake is being removed from the can and one to which the tube may be readily attached and detached and at the same time be supported to swing as desired to secure the best results, thus facilitating and simplifying the operation, all as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, 7

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

which are made a part hereof and on which similar reference characters indicate similar part-s, p a

Figure 1 isa top plan View of one form of hinge bracket illustrating the application of my invention, i

s Figure 2, a sideelevation,

Figure 3, an end elevation,- Figure 4, a top plan view of a modified form of bracket, i i

Figure 5, a side elevation, Figure 6, a top plan. view of another modified form,

Figure 7, a side elevation, V Figure 8, an end elevation, j v v Figure 9, a top plan view of anotherirnodi fied form bracket, 2 1 i Figure 10, a side elevation,

Figure 11, a detail fragmentary perspective, V 1 i V I Figure 12,.a top plan view of another form of bracket,

Figure 13, a side elevation, Figure 14, a side elevation of a type of tube head, 4 a

Figure 15, a front elevation of a device for lifting air tubes from the cans, and H t Figure 16, a side elevation. i In the drawings, reference character 10 modified tion.

1927. Serial No. 172,747.

indicates the upper portion of an ice can about the:upper rim of which is secured a band 11 for reenforcingthe edge and to which rim is secured in any desired manner, as for example by rivets 12, a hinge part 13 to whicha part 14 is hinged and forms a bracket for supporting an air agitating tube 15 which is detachably connected to the end thereof. Thehinge is mounted in such position relative to the top of the can and reenforcing band that its swinging portion will rest on and be sup ported by the same when in a horizontal posi- The free end of the bracket 14 is bifurcated to permit the head 16 of the tube 15 to be disposed therein. The arms are curved at i 17 to form depressions in which rest transversely extending ends of a supporting pin 18. In order to maintain the supportingpin -18 inthe proper position, a bifurcated spring can rim, such section having formed at its upper end spaced pintle eyes 22in which is supported a pin 28 upon which is pivoted a bracket 24 having a pintle eye 25 disposed be tween the pintle eyes 22 on the pin 23. The

pintle eyes 22 are provided with slots 27 in which are disposed the laterally extending ears 28 which, contact withthe ends of the slot and form steps by means of which the. bracket 24 is prevented from moving belowa horizontal position. 7

Instead of the air tube being supported in the mannershown in Figures 1 to 5 it may besupported in the manner shown in Figures 6 to 8 wherein the head 30 is provided with a supporting pin 31. The bracket 29 is bifurcated like the bracket shown in the preceding figure. The parts of the bracket at the sides ofthebifurcation are bent around and form pintle eyes32 for the pm. Mounted in the head 30 is a short section of tubing 33 having a slightly flared upper end 34 provided with grooves or slots disposed in parallel relation to the pin 31 for receiving the supporting pins 36 of an agitator tube 35. c

In lieu ofthe manner of supporting the agitator-tubefshown in preceding figures the tube may be supported as shown in Figures 9 to 11 in which a bracket 37 is provided with an opening38 between its mountable end-and a tongue 39 is also providedat its extremity.

detachable section lOis provided for en gagement with the end of the bracketSZsaid detachable section having, a rearwardly extending tongue 41 with an upstanding portion 42 designed to fit into the opening 38,

said detachable sectionbeing providedwith brackets 43 which extend upwardly and rearwardly in parallel relation with the bracket 41, such brackets being spaced at the opposite .side of the body and arranged to receive the tongue39'between the same and extend'over the "portion io it the bracket at the sides of the tongue to form a firm connection therewith. The detachable bracket section is bifurcated at its vforward end and pintle eyes 4a are formed ateach side of the bifurcation ftor engagement witht-he supporting-pin 45 otf'fan agitating tube 46. g

. lVith .the types of bracketsshown in the vforegoing sligures the air agitating tubes are supported to swing in single plane and longitud-inally of :the supporting bracket, or cross-wise the-can. When desired to have the agitating tube swung in all directions, or 'be- 35 universally mounted, a modification such :as

ishowniinxFigures 12 and 13 may be employed. In this form a bracket ti'is provided with an aperture 48 adjacent its forward end which aperture ma-y 'be tapered'toponform to the head 49 of an air-agitating tube 50, such head being preferably spherical and rests in the-tapered aperture, permitting a universal movement otthe' tube. By providingthe agitating tubebl with a square head =52, "as shown in Figure 14: the-tube would be held stationary, when such result is desired.

will be understood that the bracket shown attached to a freezing can may as readily be attached to the grid,can'baslret, or the frameivork used'i'n connection with the loose can system of manufacturing ice, with'the resultwell understood advantages, and that f suchattachmentm or either of them, are conten'ilplated by the language ofth'e claims.

Thebracket is herein shown and'des 'eribedas attached at the long side or" the can and swings across the narrow dimension thereof. It'w i ll be'understood that while this arrangement is preferable the attachment may be so inade as to l squire the tube to swing the long din 1ension of the can without departing tromthe spirit of my invention.

A body member or support 531s provided in which is mounted a coupling member *54 for connection with a hot water or steam pipe to which is secured a depending tube 55 for conducting hot water or steam into the air tube for thawing the same loose from the ice when it is desired to remove the same after the cake is frozen. pair-of hooks 56 joined by a strap 57, which may be formed integrally therewith, are supported on pivot screws 58. By means of the hooks 56 the air tube may be withdrawn byengaging thehooks under the supporting pins for the air tube.

W Whilethe tiube-l'ifter-is not absolutely essenplane across the can and preferably across the short dimension ordiameter of the'ca'n.

While I have shown numerous forms of tubesupports, each adapted 'to serve the fundamental purpose of the invention, i. e.', to per,

unit the supporting bracket to be swung "out of the way during the operation of harvesting the ice and at the saine time'provide a supp'ort o'f a permanent =character-in a fixed posi- "tionwith the consequent ac'lvantages, y'et it willbe understood that many other schemes toaecomplish the same end may be devised. Several'difierent forms of devices are also illustrated for attaching the agitating tube to 'thebr'acket in a mannertliat will pe rrnit'its ready attachmentl and detachment and at the same'tinie hold the tube 'SO that it will swing or oscillate during the freezing operation in a transverse direction across the *can "and he re strained'from movement in other directions.

it will be obvious to those skilled inthe art 7 that various other changes names in the construction and arrangement without departing from the spirit of my invention and therefore I'do'not limit mys lf to what isshown inthe draw-ings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the ap pendedclaims. p

7 Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patentpisz V 1. The combination with an ice canforcontainin g water to be ftrozen and a ti1befo1supplying air for agitating the water during the freezing operation, eta-bracket for supporting said tu e, said bracket being permanently hinged to the'can at one side thereof and being swingable to a "position out or the path of the ice being discharged from said can, and means at the free end er the bracket for deta'ch'ajb lysupporting said air tube, substan tially as set forth. 21 The combination with an ice can for. con

taining water to be frozen and a tube for supplying airi'or agitatingthe Water during the p I freezing operation of a bracket for supporting said tube, said bracket being permanently hinged to the can at one side thereof and being swingable to a position out of the path 5 of the ice being discharged from said can, said bracket having a perforation formed at its free end and yieldable means for detachably maintaining said air tube in said perforation, substantially as set forth.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my 10 hand at WVaynesboro, Pennsylvania, this 25th day of February, A. D. nineteen hundred and twenty-seven.

NORMAN M. SMALL. 

